Survey on Cities in Europe Published by European Commission

Flash Eurobarometer No 419 on “Quality of life in European cities” has been conducted at the request of the European Commission (Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy) in order to to get city dwellers’ opinions on different urban issues. The survey has been conducted in 79 European cities.

Main Findings of the Study

Are people satisfied with their city?

Overall, there is a high level of satisfaction with regard to the cities in which respondents live

There are significant differences between cities in the level of satisfaction regarding public transport

The level of satisfaction with health care services shows large variations between cities

A generally high level of satisfaction with sports facilities

A majority of respondents in all but one city are satisfied with their city’s cultural facilities

Satisfaction regarding the state of streets and buildings is low in many EU capitals

Satisfaction with public spaces such as markets, squares and pedestrian zones is generally high

Satisfaction regarding the availability of retail shops is generally high

How city residents view their city?

In only 14 cities do a majority of respondents say that it is easy to find a job in their city

Finding good housing at a reasonable price is perceived as a challenge by most respondents in more than half of the cities surveyed, and this difficulty is perceived as particularly severe in capitals

The presence of foreigners is generally viewed as positive

A majority of respondents feel safe in almost all cities

Trust in fellow citizens is high in more than three-quarters of cities

Contrasting views on the city’s administrative services

What people think about environment in their city?

Air quality is the aspect on which views diverge the most

Noise level varies in importance as an issue

Views on cleanliness vary considerably between cities

Satisfaction with green spaces is generally high

Many cities show a large increase since 2012 in the number of people who feel that their city is involved in fighting climate change

People’s personal situation

In around half of the cities, at least 9 out of 10 respondents say they are satisfied with the lives they lead

In all the cities surveyed, a majority of respondents are satisfied with the place where they live

Most cities register only slight increases in satisfaction compared with the 2012 survey.

There have been some large increases since 2012 in respondents’ satisfaction concerning the financial situation of their household

Satisfaction with the personal job situation varies considerably from city to city

What are the most important issues that people believe are facing their city?

Health services, unemployment and education and training are perceived as the most important issues for their city